I look (am) like Him! (Luke 8: 19-21)

In 2007, when my father came to Taiwan to attend my solemn profession to the Order of Preachers, many of my friends told us that he looks like me or vice versa. In other words, the similarity is very obvious that there is no way we can deny our father-son relationship.  Some of them even pointed out how I would look like when I reach (hopefully) the age of 60. I am grateful my father is naturally good looking (laughs).

On a serious note, in today’s Gospel, Luke narrated an incident on Jesus and His biological family. His mother and brothers (kin) wanted to have a word with Him but they could not reach him because of the large crowd gathered in the room. As soon as Jesus was notified that they are waiting outside, He asked and told the crowd, “He/she who listens to the word of God and acts on them is my brother, (sister), my mother.” Jesus is pointing out that to be part (member) of God’s family, we should be like Him in everyway, doing His will and doing every service out of love for God and men.

In this way, when people see us, they will be reminded not only of our biological familial relationship but most especially they will see the family of God – how God cares and willing to accept His people; how happy it is to be part of His family. As the psalmist said today “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Ps 122: 1-5)

Firm Foundation

Luke 6: 43-49

In today’s Gospel two ordinary but useful things – sand and rock – were mentioned in the parable. Both of them are very useful in building a stronger house if use wisely. But if use as a foundation of the house obviously one outdoes the other.

If we are to write our name on either one, some people would prefer to write on sand because it can be done effortlessly. Some people would labor to write their name on a rock because they think differently. The huge difference lies on the fact that foolish people want the easy way; they avoid to toil and are short-sighted. Wise people on the other hand know exactly what is essential and aim for it even if it takes them ‘forever’.

In the Bible we heard Jesus as saying, ‘do not trouble your self about tomorrow for tomorrow has its own worries’. I could not agree more. But foolish people think only of today and as they think the day is already over, while wise people do not need to think of today because they know exactly what to do.

In life, everyone aims for happiness. But happiness is built on a foundation. Some people have ‘karma’ as its foundation; some would use a certain kind of law like the ‘lex talionis’ and still some others would use ‘science’ as everything. For a Christian like me, we have faith as a tool towards happiness and we have Jesus as our faith and happiness’ firm foundation.  

堅實的基礎

路六: 36-49

在今天的福音有兩個很普通但有用的東西 - 沙子和岩石 - 被提到的。若明智地使用這兩個東西都是非常有用的為建設一個更強的房子。但是，如果以此為基礎的房子顯然 一個優於另一個。

如果我們把我們的名字寫在這兩個東西，有些人寧願寫在沙子，因為它可以做到毫不費力。有些人勞動地會寫自己的名字在一塊岩石上，因為這些人有不同的想法。巨大的區別在於一個事實，即愚蠢的人想省事，他們避免勞累且他們的看法很短視。聰明的人在另一方面確切地知道什麼是必要的, 即使需要永久的時間就瞄準把它完成。

在聖經中，我們聽到耶穌的話說，“你們不要為明天憂慮，因為明天有明天的憂慮”。我同意。但是愚蠢的人不只想到今天，而且想的太長日子已經結束了，而聰明的人並不需要考慮的，因為他們知道今天究竟該怎麼做。

在生活中，每個人的目的是幸福的。但幸福是建立在一個基礎。有些人依靠“因果報應”為基礎，有些人會使用某一種法律，如“以眼還眼, 以牙還牙”，仍然有些人會用“科學”作為一切。對於一個像我這樣的基督徒，我們有信心，對幸福的一種工具，而我們的信仰和幸福有耶穌基督為堅實的基礎。

I am Chosen (Lk 6: 12-19)

Jesus went all night to pray, listening and perhaps bargaining with the Father as well regarding the choosing of the twelve. Then from among the many disciples He chose them. It’s like ‘take it or leave it’, only with an attitude: confidence in God. We should be thankful to God we are chosen too, ordinary as we all are but called to do extra ordinary things. It also means Jesus has put His confidence in us because He prayed first before He chose us. The most beautiful truth about this is He chose us not ‘because of’ but ‘in spite of’. Indeed, what a great God we have in our midst!